Livingston County Indivisible group meeting twice monthly

Livingston County, part of Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, is not known as a liberal stronghold. But county residents whose political persuasion tends toward liberal, Democratic and progressive rather than conservative and Republican, can join like-minded individuals when Indivisible of Livingston County meets twice monthly.

The fledgling organization was formed in late January after the Women’s March on Washington by area residents William Goodwin and Nicole Preece. Modeled on principles laid out by the national Indivisible Movement, the county group has attracted more than 500 members as of June 8, said member Patricia McDade-Ralya.

“The consensus among those who started the group was that our democracy is at risk,” Goodwin said. “All believed we have a civic duty to become actively involved in addressing these risks. We believed the best approach to accomplish this task is by promoting democratic principles through political action and community service.”

To that end, members have voiced their opinions at legislative town halls and at the Brighton office of Congressman Mike Bishop (R-8th Dist.), made phone calls to their Members of Congress and attended other public events to advocate for issues the group supports. At its most recent meeting on June 1, Kathy Edgren, of the Ann Arbor League of Women Voters, spoke about redistricting and gerrymandering. Upcoming meetings will feature speakers on environmental and other current issues, candidates for office and roundtable discussions of the issues.

Indivisible Livingston County opposes what it views as the regressive agenda of President Donald Trump by:

1) Seeking an end to gerrymandering. We believe gerrymandering disenfranchises voters by favoring one political group over another;

2) Opposing any measure that suppresses an individual’s right to vote;

3) Opposing the influence of big money in politics. We believe this is nothing more than bribery;

4) Opposing school vouchers. We also support public education, including free college tuition;

5) Supporting ACA, erroneously known as “Obamacare,” as currently the best way to provide healthcare to the majority of Americans;

6) Promoting efforts to correct income inequality, including ending tax cuts for the rich, increasing the minimum wage and working to end gender inequality in pay;

7) Opposing efforts to undermine Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid;

8) Supporting efforts to preserve the environment;

9) Supporting women’s health issues, including Planned Parenthood.

Meetings, held at 7 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month at the Community Unitarian Universalists in Brighton (CUUB), 3333 S. Old US-23 in Brighton, are open to the public. The next regular meeting is set for June 15 at CUUB. For more information, check out the organization’s webpage at www.indivisiblelivingston.com.

You can check out Indivisible of Livingston County’s Facebook page by clicking here.

2 Comments

This protest of Sheriff Clark who is a very conservative African-American person at a local Republican event would fall under free speech, as would peaceful protest demonstration. It is curious that he was elected in Milwaukee County as it, like most large urban areas, has substantial Democrat majority voters.